Between the impending con (2 days after my dues are due) and
the book that is still not done yet, I offer this drabble for my current dues period.
If I ever get any time to write on my longer story that several of you are
clamoring for, you might see it next dues period!Diane

Tick Tock

2nd Missing Scene
from Death Clock

Sequel to Death miss

by Diane Kachmar

Nelson
entered Sickbay quietly. The smell of smoke still lingered, but he was pleased
to see Lee was now awake and no longer in a coma. Will was checking his vital
signs. Harry could see Lee was not happy about still being here.

"You
wanted to see me, son," Nelson asked, in greeting.

Lee turned
and looked at him. Something flashed through his eyes almost too fast to catch,
misery and shame, but that was quickly replaced by relief. "Have you found
Mallory yet?" he asked quietly.

"We're
still searching the boat for him. There are only so many places he can hide and
Sharkey knows ever one of them. He won't escape now, particularly since he
almost killed you when his machine blew up. The crew was not happy about that,
you know."

Crane
almost smiled, then his expression turned sober. "I don't think the Chief
is going to be able to find him, but let him complete the search."

Will turned
to his patient. "Lee, do you know something you are not telling us?"

Jamieson
shook his head. "If he wasn't here, who was I talking to when you were in
a coma?"

"You'll
never believe me." Crane gave a tiny shake of his head.

"Try
me," Nelson encouraged.

"What
do you know about the fourth dimension?" Lee asked.

"Einstein
theorized it was time, but he was never able to prove that."

"Do
you believe that?"

Nelson rubbed
behind his ear thoughtfully. "It's an interesting theory that has some
merit."

Crane
turned to the Doctor. "I wasn't in a coma, I know all my vitals were reading
like I was, but I had actually been shifted into the fourth dimension. Where
Mallory was in charge, he told me he was an alien and where he showed me I had
killed the Admiral."

Nelson ran
a hand down his chest. "I can assure you I'm not dead, son."

Again Lee
almost smiled."After you, he was
going to kill the entire crew. I couldn't allow that. So I blew up his machine,
both over there and here."

Jamieson
laid a quick hand on Crane's forehead to check for fever.

"No, Jamie,
I didn't imagine it." Lee moved his head restlessly away. "I was in
the fourth dimension, the Admiral was dead and I --" Lee squeezed his eyes
shut. "It was horrible, I couldn't get back to yesterday, no matter what I
tried!"

Will
inclined his head and Harry moved closer to the bed. He gently closed his hand
around Crane's upper arm. "Steady, Lee, you've had a bad day, what with
the reactor running wild and then the proximity of this explosion --"

Lee's eyes
snapped open. "Then you don't believe me."

"I
didn't say that," Nelson answered. "I am glad you are out that coma.
Doc tells me he might even release you back to duty, if your vitals check
out."

"I
said maybe," Jamieson answered. "Now, hold still and let me finish
checking you out, or you aren't going anywhere!"

The Captain
settled back into his pillow a little deeper. "Oh, yes, it is definitely yesterday."